WILLIAMSBURG — With stainless steel arms swooping and reaching upward from a black base, the 275-pound sculpture evokes a sense of movement.
Although what exactly is moving — dancers, feathers, water — is up for interpretation, said artist Gregory Johnson.
“You bring your imagination to it, and it becomes an interactive piece,” Johnson said, wiping sweat from his face after installing the sculpture along Richmond Road Monday morning.
Four more sculptures join Johnson’s “Plume” on Friday, when artists Matt Amante, Jordan Parah and Michael Bednar install their works, many of them large, colorful pieces.
This small sculpture garden at 906 Richmond Road, Williamsburg’s 2016 outdoor art exhibition, will remain in place for one year as a stationary reminder of an ever-evolving pursuit of public art.
“There are folks that maybe don’t have the means or the time or just don’t think about going to an art gallery or seeking out art,” said Terry Buntrock, Arts Coordinator for the City of Williamsburg, James City and York Counties. “If somehow we can figure out a way to make it free and accessible and just part of their lives, I think that’s important.”
The sculpture garden is the next chapter of the city’s outdoor art exhibition that has dotted the Arts District for the past year.
Learning from year one
“We did learn that people are very vocal about what they like and don’t like,” Buntrock said. “And we expected that.”
What matters is that conversation is sparked.
“We think public art is a very important part of having a vibrant community, where people want to live, work and visit,” said Michele DeWitt, the city’s economic development director.
More than two years ago, Buntrock’s passion for art led her to the idea of public art, as at the time, she served on the city’s Beautification Committee. The committee responded positively to the idea, and Buntrock began researching public art in other municipalities.
Partnering with DeWitt and Carolyn Murphy, then the city’s deputy director of planning, Buntrock fundraised, searched for sculpture artists, developed a theme.
Last summer, backed by the Planning Department and Economic Development Authority, Buntrock’s vision became reality: 21 sculptures scattered throughout Williamsburg’s Arts District.
“It was just kind of trial-by-doing that first year,” Buntrock said.
Buntrock noted some criticism on the exhibit’s scattered nature.
“We had to start somewhere,” she said, “and how the things were placed was all driven by who gave the money,” Buntrock said.
Nearly half of the exhibit’s $20,000 budget came from business sponsors within the Arts District, the rest from an anonymous donation and a grant from Virginia Commission for the Arts.
There was one partial theft, and a few others attempted. Otherwise, the first year was successful, Buntrock said, with three pieces sold.
Even so, big changes awaited the installation’s second year.
Sculpture Garden
Johnson arrived to install his work early Monday morning.
“Plume” had survived the nine-hour drive from Johnson’s home in Georgia strapped to a cargo carrier behind the artist’s Jeep. Before that, it survived the exhibit’s jury process.
With the help of two city Codes Compliance staff, he lifted the sculpture from the Jeep. He drilled four holes in a cement pad previously poured by the City Street Division, then bolted “Plume” to the cement. Buntrock and Murphy, who is now Director of Planning and Codes Compliance, looked on.
Four other cement pads rested nearby, awaiting their own sculptures. Therein lies the exhibit’s biggest noticeable difference: the five new sculptures, as well as two from last year’s exhibit leased for another year, all stand in one section of the 900 block of Richmond Road.
“You’ll be able to go up the street and buy a cupcake, or buy a salad at Qdoba, and come back and sit on the benches around this art and actually have a little destination there,” Buntrock said.
A few benches, landscaping and possibly even a fence will tie the site together.
“This year’s exhibit is going to be a great pilot program to show people what an outdoor sculpture garden can look like,” Buntrock said. “I hope that then other places in the region will say, you know, we have a little corner over here, and we could replicate that.”
Triangle Arts and Culture League
Perhaps the 2016 exhibit’s biggest unseen difference is the involvement of the Triangle Arts and Culture League, a nonprofit group dedicated to the support and development of public art in Greater Williamsburg.
Buntrock founded the nonprofit in 2015. She saw similar models throughout her research of public art in other communities, particularly the partnership in Portland, Ore., between a municipality and a nonprofit.
“TACL is ultimately a way for us to develop an income stream that can go back into funding arts projects for the region,” Buntrock said.
Directing TACL is a volunteer role Buntrock performs in addition to her job as Arts Coordinator, paid by the regional Economic Development Authorities. Though it had always been a goal to wrap TACL’s mission into arts coordination, establishing the nonprofit ultimately made more sense.
“It makes sense from the extent that a nonprofit can get funding sometimes that a government can’t,” Buntrock said. “So that’s really the purpose of making a nonprofit entity.”
For this year’s outdoor exhibit, Buntrock said TACL has contributed $13,000 to cover artist’s stipends. In some cases, the sculpture’s price was so close to the stipend that Buntrock said it made sense to simply purchase the art. The $13,000 includes purchase of two past sculptures and three new sculptures.
She said that money was raised through private donations.
The money for benches and landscaping draws from a $3,100 grant from Virginia Commission for the Arts, as well as the commission from sculptures sold during last year’s exhibit.
Apart from Virginia Commission for the Arts, the nonprofit has not yet applied for grant money.
“But we are ready to do that,” Buntrock said.
The organization also plans to host two fundraisers each year, the “Run for Arts” 10K and a three-day “Art and Garden” event, in addition to “Cultivate,” a yearly educational opportunity for artists. Both the city and James City County contributed seed money for “Art and Garden.”
TACL’s nine board members — all of whom helped jury this year’s round of sculptures — include Elizabeth Mead, chair of the College of William and Mary’s Art and Art History Department, State Del. Monty Mason and DeWitt.
Board president Greg Lilly sees public art as much more than sculpture.
“It’s visual art. It’s performing art. It’s architecture. It’s landscape. It’s literary art. Every kind of art that people can enjoy,” Lilly said. “That’s what we’re trying to bring and support, and make it available to everybody. That’s the main thing of public art is that it’s accessible to everyone in the community.”
It makes sense, then, that the community should have a voice. TACL’s League of 100 seeks to include community input and support through a membership of individuals passionate about the nonprofit’s mission.
“Over time, the mission of TACL will change what our community looks like,” Buntrock said, “and we want to be careful about that, because this is already a really beautiful place.”
Looking ahead
While the city’s outdoor art installation is only in its second year, Lilly doesn’t see public art necessarily as a new initiative in Williamsburg.
“I think it’s been going on for quite some time,” he said. “But it’s been individual organizations.”
He hopes TACL can play a role in helping unify efforts.
DeWitt agreed that Williamsburg is no stranger to public art, but said there hasn’t yet been a structured, official effort from the municipality.
But the city will be putting together a Parks, Recreation, Culture and Art Plan that will move more in that direction, she said. That plan, of which a Request for Proposal will be released soon, will hopefully launch in the coming months.
Buntrock said the city, at TACL’s request, has earmarked $20,000 of that plan for a grant-writer.
Lilly hopes ultimately that when people visit Williamsburg, “they see art, and it registers with them that this is an artist’s community, and this is a community that values creativity and the expression of creativity.”
For now, one thing is certain: Buntrock has plenty of ideas.
“It’s going to be an interesting next five years,” she said.
Bridges can be reached by phone at 757-345-2342.
Where to find art
The 2016 outdoor sculpture garden features five new works, as well as two pieces from last year’s outdoor installation. You can visit the garden at 906 Richmond Road. Once pieces are in place, the city’s Williamsburg Wayfinder mobile app will provide an audio/visual tour of the garden.
About TACL
TACL’s League of 100 is a ‘by invitation’ lifetime membership of individuals passionate about the organization’s mission. League membership is $100 annually for adults, $30 for students. TACL also offers the opportunity to become a Friend or Sponsor of the organization. For more information, visit TACL-VA.org. Contact Terry Buntrock at 293-8553 or buntrockterry@gmail.com.
